Fibromyalgia and hysterectomy: the impact on health status and health care costs

Clin Rheumatol. 2012 Nov;31(11):1585-9. doi: 10.1007/s10067-012-2051-z. Epub 2012 Aug 9.

Abstract

Women account for over 80 % of the fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) population. Some researchers have noted that a large percentage of women with FMS have had hysterectomies. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between FMS and hysterectomies, and to examine the impact of having a hysterectomy on health status and health care costs. A sample of 573 American women, who were members of a health maintenance organization with a confirmed diagnosis of FMS, reported whether they had a hysterectomy. Participants completed the Quality of Well-Being Scale and their annual health care costs were calculated based on their medical records. Almost half of the sample (48.3 %) reported having had a hysterectomy, with 90.7 % reporting having had the surgery before their FMS diagnosis. Those who had a hysterectomy had significantly lower general health status and incurred higher health care costs than the women with FMS who did not have a hysterectomy. The percentage of women with FMS who had a hysterectomy was considerably higher than that found in the general population. In this study, having a hysterectomy and a diagnosis of FMS was related to poorer health status and higher health care costs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Fibromyalgia / complications*
  • Fibromyalgia / economics*
  • Health Care Costs
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Hysterectomy / economics*
  • Hysterectomy / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Uterine Diseases / complications*
  • Uterine Diseases / economics*
  • Women's Health